NAGRAT Strike And Its Repercussion For The Nation

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I have hesitated, thought hard and long to write this piece. It was my belief until now that ‘tempers’ would have given way to reasoning for our calling of teachers to go back to the classrooms. The genesis of events up to this time is the Labour Act, (Act 651). Under this article, if within any registered and recognized body there are splinter groups, the Collective Bargaining Agreement, is given to the group with the highest number of members. By inference, the lot falls on GNAT to possess the CBA as opposed to NAGRAT. It then becomes incumbent on GNAT to negotiate for salaries and conditions of service for all teachers. As the constitutional right of every adult Ghanaian, he/she reserves the right for request for expulsion or revocation by filing a writ/motion at only the Supreme Court of Ghana.

Since the re-opening of School and its attendant fanfare of ‘my first day at school’ at school, the NAGRAT strike action is gradually grinding to halt and the implicit propensity to lead our children/students astray. In a press conference held on Wednesday 27/09/06, NAGRAT requested amongst other things that Government reviewed the salaries of workers especially those of teachers by a certain date.

Indeed it is a welcome development since the remuneration of most workers is not high enough. Teachers, like most public sector workers form a sizeable percentage of the total work force in the country. It appears to me that special emphasis on that of teachers is myopic and selfish, and attempt to blackmail the government of President Kufuor.

Listening to some teachers on the radio over the last couple of weeks saddens my heart with their belligerent posture, and abusive tongues. Any minister who attempts to make a plea for their return is not spared with their new style of rebuffing and subsequent rubbishing.

How can a teacher on National TV have the nerve to question the right of a Minister of State to plead that they go to the classrooms whiles negotiations continue.

Beyond this widely held perception that they are becoming a bad example for society, is the agenda to court public sympathy by lying. I am prepared to challenge any of those claiming that a driver of the Nations premium teaching hospital earns more than a teacher. The claim is that a driver at Korle-Bu collects 4 Million cedis, whiles a graduate teacher collects 2.3 million cedis. The managers of our economy have carefully calculated the economic weight of each job category and only under exceptional circumstances can a driver earn more that 4 million cedis. The exception is when a driver has salary arrears or has traveled outside his duty post for several days with his superior officer. Under these circumstances, the driver will or may be paid traveling allowance/hotel allowance/food. Obviously a critic of the government will pose the question ‘what has government done so far’?

According to a press release signed by Hon. Papa Owusu Ankomah, two meetings have already been held at Swerdru (Greenland Hotel) with Organized Labour including Teachers Union and Public Sector Representatives of Workers on new salaries for all workers. If this assertion is true, then our teachers are not being fair to us. I opine that government should adopt a composite approach where all workers salaries are addressed instead of the aggregate where one group is looked after when they agitate.

A teacher’s source of pride is when his pupils/students perform well at an examination. This actually hinges on effective teaching and learning, which our teachers are not doing, but collecting salaries each month of the strike period. The right to embark on the strike is not in dispute, but when over stretched, its only meaning is blackmail, mischief and outright cheating or an attempted incitement to authority.

It is worth mentioning that, the government of President Kufuor has done so much for teachers than any Government in history of this Country. For a certificate A teacher earning 3.17 million per year (264.17 cedis) in 2000, today he/she earns 17.05million per year (1.4206 cedis)

Senior Superintendent 5.3m in 2000 to 26.11m in 2006 Principal Supt 6.03m in 2000 to 30.27m in 2006 Assistant Director 7.79m in 2000 to 35.09m in 2006

Indeed every year, the salary of teachers has been increased. All these while, some of those teachers have given the impression that government promises but fails. Our NAGRAT brothers are giving the impression there are no graduates in GNAT. This state of affairs is most unfortunate to say the least.

Since the Olive branch was thrown to them, to join GNAT to negotiate, they have adamantly or defiantly chosen to have nothing to do with GNAT. The few elements amongst them agitating disrespectfully must be told loud and clear, that they are gradually becoming unwelcome. Is it fair to collect your salaries for no work done? Is it right to threaten to “misteach” the children whose parents are also playing their part to ensure a just society for us all?

Honestly, if I were the President, I will suspend their salaries for the next two months. If the teaching profession is not earning what they think they deserve, it is simple: RESIGN AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB.